Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding the General Plan
Q: Can I get a copy of the general plan?
A: “Each city and county within California is required to adopt a general plan update and update that plan at regular intervals. The purpose of the general plan is to anticipate and plan for ‘the physical development of the county or city, and any land outside of its boundaries which bears relation to its planning’.” (I-2, GP) The associated Environmental Impact Report “is intended to provide information to public agencies, the general public, and decision makers regarding potential
environmental impacts related to adoption and implementation of the updated Orange General Plan (p.1-1 EIR) The General Plan (GP) and the associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR) are both available on the city’s website (www.cityoforange.org). They’re both long and detailed reports, so if you only read one, we would recommend reading the EIR.
Q: Who is spearheading this?
A: The City of Orange is updating the current general plan, which is updated approximately every 10 years.
Q: Please give more details about widening Glassell.
A: Included in the plan is the widening of Glassell from La Veta to Collins excluding the Plaza, utilizing right of ways. (EIR volume 1page 5.14-30) The GP also states that “The City plans to prohibit on-street parking on all streets except those classified as Secondary or Collector streets in order to facilitate improved traffic flow along Orange’s major arterials.” (EIR p.14-51)
Q: Besides mailing in my letter to the city, how can I help?
A: You can familiarize yourself with the Plan and EIR and attend planning and council meetings to express your concerns.
Q: What are the 100 blocks that will be affected by the removal of on street parking
on Chapman & Glassell?
A: The GP and EIR both indicate that the City currently does not intend to widen the 100 Blocks of either Glassell or Chapman. We have however, not been able to find specific information regarding proposed changes to on-street parking in the downtown Plaza.
Q: If they take away street parking on Chapman and Glassell, where will people park?
A: If there is no available parking on site (driveway/garage), the only other alterative would be adjacent streets.
Q: Can I download maps of the General Plan and/or the EIR?
A: All documents including maps are available on the city’s website www.cityoforange.org
Q: Someone told me I should read the Environmental Impact Report vs. the General
Plan. What is it and what's the difference?
A: The associated Environmental Impact Report “is intended to provide information to public agencies, the general public, and decision makers regarding potential environmental impacts related to adoption and implementation of the updated Orange General Plan (p.1-1 EIR). We recommend viewing both, but the details and associated impacts that will affect you the most can be found in the EIR.
Q: To what extent do these changes come into the crosshairs with Old Towne being
on the National Register of Historic Places?
A: Proposed changes that will adversely impact historic resources will be subject to review by the Design Review Committee/Planning Commission or City Council depending on the type of project. These projects are required to meet The Old Towne Design Standards as well as the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. Many of the proposals in the plan may never happen so our question is: why include proposals/changes that will have negative impacts in the plan at all? This leaves the door open for inappropriate projects to be brought forward simply because they are allowed in the Plan.
Q: Is OTPA contacting merchants in the Plaza area?
A: We have attempted to contact all of the Plaza merchants.
Q: Where are the housing density increases proposed?
A: In brief, the most intense proposed areas for future development are concentrated along the railway (between Walnut and La Veta Streets), and along Chapman and Glassell (between Batavia and Cambridge / Walnut and La Veta). More specific information can be found in the General Plan Land Use section (p.LU-40) Also here is a link to the land use maps:
http://www.edaw.com/orange/PDFs/ProposedLU/5-EXGP_GPAC_6_07092008.pdf
Q: What do our mayor and city council members say about this?
A: At the last joint session the city council and planning commission members had many concerns with the Plan, especially mixed use densities along Chapman and Glassell.
Q: I thought La Veta was already 4 lanes?
A: La Veta is four lanes west of Glassell but from Glassell to Cambridge it is currently two lanes. The General Plan calls for a four lane secondary facility. The widening of this section of La Veta was proposed about 10 years ago but was met with opposition and the plan was dropped.
Q: Since Chapman College is currently restricted on buying or owning property
east of Shaffer, is this going to be changed in this “upgrade”?
A: We are not aware of these restrictions. The plan does not address ownership of properties – mainly land use.